Despite the 33-16 scoreline, Rennie was candid that the match was tight until late — with the Boks still in it at 19-16 before New Zealand pulled away. The analytical centrepiece of his post-match assessment was the points-per-22-entry conversion rate: the All Blacks averaged 3.67 points every time they entered the Bok 22, while South Africa — typically one of the most clinical sides at this level — managed just 0.91 against an unusually stingy All Blacks defence. Rennie noted the Boks normally score around 5.5 points per 22 entry, which underlines just how exceptional the defensive effort was. He credited Tana Umaga's defensive structure and the team's scramble ability for keeping South Africa to a single try, while acknowledging the All Blacks also gave away penalty-count pressure that kept the Boks in the contest deep into the second half.
Rennie's 'massive stat' explains how the All Blacks turned a scrappy arm-wrestle into a 17-point win
Rennie's key post-match stat — 3.67 vs 0.91 points per 22-entry — explains how a tight arm-wrestle became a convincing scoreline, with New Zealand's clinical finishing and unusually stingy defence neutralising a Bok attack that typically scores 5.5 points per 22-metre entry.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
Hansen's Right to Back Himself — But the Boks' Five-Match Streak Tells a Different Story
Jean de Villiers acknowledges Hansen's logic but argues last year's results and performances make it hard to see the All Blacks closing the gap on the Boks — and the panel get genuinely animated over what a 2-2 series tiebreaker would even look like.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.
All Blacks' loosehead crisis hands Springboks a ready-made weapon in Greatest Rivalry Series
Jeff Wilson has publicly identified loosehead prop as the All Blacks' most dangerous weakness ahead of four consecutive Tests against the Springboks — with Williams likely out, Tu'ungafasi's future uncertain, and the remaining options short on caps and experience. Set against the depth Erasmus has built across the prop positions, this piece maps out why scrum time could be where the Greatest Rivalry Series is decided.
Stephen Donald: Robertson copied the Boks — Rennie must go back to All Blacks DNA
Stephen Donald backs Hansen's anti-copycat argument, saying Robertson erred by chasing the Springbok blueprint rather than New Zealand's tempo-based strengths — and expects Rennie to correct that course ahead of a blockbuster four-Test series in South Africa.